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President Bashar al-Assad’s response to Amnesty International report on Saydnaya

10 February 2017, 17:25 UTC

In response to President Bashar al-Assad’s interview with Yahoo News in which he dismisses the findings of Amnesty International’s recent report on mass hangings and extermination at Saydnaya military prison in Syria, the organization’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Philip Luther, said:

“In his interview President Bashar al-Assad repeatedly attempts to discredit Amnesty International’s findings. However, he admits he has not visited Saydnaya military prison and provides not a shred of information about the ‘true’ situation there.

“He acknowledges that executions take place in Syria, but fails to give any details whatsoever about the number carried out in Saydnaya or anywhere else in the country.

If he has nothing to hide he must immediately grant access for international monitors to Saydnaya and all other places of detention in Syria

Philip Luther, Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa

“If he has nothing to hide he must immediately grant access for international monitors to Saydnaya and all other places of detention in Syria. He must also reveal the truth about the number of executions taking place. Russia, which has also publicly dismissed the findings of the report should use its influence with the Syrian authorities to make this happen.”